Bank Pharmacy Assistant

Job overview

Medway NHS Foundation Trust is looking for enthusiastic and reliable Bank Pharmacy Assistants to support our busy and friendly Pharmacy Department. This is a fantastic opportunity to gain NHS experience, develop pharmacy skills, and work flexibly around your availability.

As a bank member of staff, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring patients receive their medicines safely, accurately, and on time — helping us deliver outstanding care every day.

Main duties of the job

Working within Pharmacy , your responsibilities will include:

• Supplying, delivering, and collecting medicines to and from wards and departments
• Supporting stock control across ward areas, including top-ups, expiry date checks, and stock rotation
• Assisting with receipt, storage, and distribution of medicines within the pharmacy
• Assisting with the dispensing and supply of medicines
• Processing outpatient and discharge prescriptions
• Maintaining accurate records and supporting pharmacy administration
• Reporting stock shortages, discrepancies, and urgent supply issues
• Working closely with pharmacists, technicians, porters, and ward staff to support patient care

This is a practical, hands-on role with plenty of movement and teamwork throughout the day.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

General duties

Work within pharmacy Standard operating procedures.

To undertake (dispensing) and inventory management (stock control) duties within the Pharmacy to meet the needs and expectations of our service users

To buddy and train other members of pharmacy staff who rotate through operational areas on service specific tasks i.e. dispensing and top up services

To manage out of stock items and other communications to external customers

Ensure the correct storage of the medication and ensure good stock rotation and monitor and check and record expiry dates

Sort, file and archive prescriptions and other relevant paper as advised as per standard operating procedures.

Ensure that any to follow items are sent as soon as possible and any discrepancies checked.

Ensure the availability of sufficient stock and sundries/consumables to the operational areas

Answer the telephone and refer clinical queries to the appropriate trained staff member.

Maintain good customer services at all times.

Ensure that the appropriate manual and computer records are amended when stock is transferred and that stock discrepancies are either corrected immediately or reported to a senior member of staff

Carry out daily stock checks against the computer-generated monitoring sheets for stock audit. Ensure that any discrepancies are reported.

Delivery of medicines to wards and clinics when required during the week and at    weekends

Liaise with patients, external customers and hospital staff and resolve any queries. Where queries cannot be resolved then escalate to the appropriate manager.

Safely handle medications including those that may be hazardous to health.

To support and assist all members of the pharmacy team.

Assist in the delivery of dispensed items to the wards and departments

Procurement, stores and distribution

Accurately count stock at ward level and replenish stocks to agreed levels.

Highlight any concerns with medicines security and storage requirements to ward staff and pharmacy managers.

Work under and understand good distribution practice as it relates to activities working with the MHRA framework for wholesaler dealer activities.

Ensure that the emergency drug cupboard has appropriate stock and escalate any times where there are stock shortages which mean the cupboard cannot be restocked fully.

To train other members of pharmacy staff regarding processes for external customers

Asses, process and accurately return any surplus or unused drugs following departmental standard operating procedures

Ensure that the goods received by the pharmacy are promptly unpacked and checked off against delivery notes.

Ensure that any to-follow or out of stock issues are promptly and accurately reported to both the procurement and distribution managers

Collate stock, including orders from Community clinics and other outside agencies, ready for collection by the pharmacy porter or hospital transport.

Accurately over label medications for use by the wards

Accurately assess stock levels at ward level and reorder based on set parameters as defined on the top up list.

Follow health and safety practice in line with health and safety legislation in line with guidance i.e. COSHH.

Use equipment and aids safely and as per standard operating procedures.

Dispensary Services

Maintain accurate records on both the CMM dispensing system and PTS (both for deliveries and general activity monitoring)

After training dispense controlled drugs for ward stock and named patients on discharge.

Ensure that any to follow items are sent as soon as possible and any discrepancies checked.

Ensure the availability of sufficient stock and sundries/consumables to the dispensary.

Receive outpatient prescriptions from customers and take the appropriate payment, advise on any benefits available to them and obtain details, to ensure the back of the prescription is completed accurately.

Receive prescriptions from healthcare staff.

Hand out medications to ward and clinic staff.

Record all financial transactions connected with NHS and private patients

Responsible for the Dispensary cash register procedure, including the float and cashing up.

To maintain current and relevant information in the waiting area as per departmental procedures and as advised by the dispensary manager

Accurately input prescription details into the prescription tracker system

Deal with enquiries from patients and healthcare staff on prescription wait times.

Manager minor complaints from patients and escalate to senior managers when issues are unresolved.

Communicate with wide range of patients and staff with differing communication needs.

To provide dispensing services for our external partners, including supply of patients discharge medicines, inpatient medicines and controlled drug stock.

Maintain accurate records on both the CMM dispensing system and PTS (both for deliveries and general activity monitoring)

To ensure regular stock balance checks are carried out of the ‘Wholesale’ CD location and any discrepancies actioned immediately

Act as the main communicator between the dispensary at MMH and any external customers, such as MCH

Log, communicate and action any out of stock items needed by external customers

Ensure that any to follow items are sent as soon as possible and any discrepancies checked.

Ensure the availability of sufficient stock and sundries/consumables to the dispensary.

Communicate out of stock items to patients and wards in a timely fashion.

General

Participate in the late-night service, weekend and bank holiday rotas as required.

Report any complaints, incidents or near miss situations via the error reporting system and your line manager.

Maintain a clean and tidy environment

Undertake any other duties as deemed appropriate for safe running of the pharmacy department.

To maintain an active portfolio of continuing professional development (CPD)

All pharmacy staff must show confidentiality with regard to any information about patients, confidential information about the Trust and commercial information (e.g. drug prices).

All work will be carried out in accordance with the relevant laws, the guidelines of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain and the General pharmaceutical council, Trust and departmental procedures and standards of professional practice

Key Result Areas

To provide a pharmacy service in accordance with current professional standards and clinical governance guidance.

To develop the required knowledge and skills.

To work as part of a multi disciplinary team providing an efficient and effective pharmacy service to the Trust, ensuring patients receive the optimum level of service and care.